Basketball Blog

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, who was injured during the team’s evening practice session at BYU-Hawaii on Friday when he hit his head on the hip of rookie forward Brandan Wright during a full court scrimmage, was released from the hospital late Friday night (Hawaii time, just before midnight).  Ellis left Castle Hospital in Kailua, Hawaii on his own accord with what was diagnosed as simply a neck sprain.  The 6’3″ guard underwent a battery of tests – including an MRI and CT Scan – which all proved normal.  His status is listed as day-to-day and his availability for the team’s preseason games against the Los Angeles Lakers in Honolulu on Tuesday and Thursday will be determined early next week.

Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May will miss the entire 2007-08 season after an exploratory procedure and several evaluations on his right knee revealed that he will need microfracture surgery.

Drafted by Charlotte with the 13th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft after leaving the University of North Carolina as an early-entry candidate, May has appeared in 58 games for the Bobcats during his first two seasons and averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. He missed 41 games last season and the final 56 games of the 2005-06 season.

“Sean has dedicated himself to taking every available route to get back on the court,” Team Physician Dr. Glenn Perry said. “We are hopeful that this procedure will allow him to resume his career and be the player that he wants to be.”

Dr. David W. Altchek will perform the microfracture procedure on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Sports Medicine and Shoulder facility at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. May is expected to be on crutches for up to eight weeks. Full recovery likely will take six to 12 months, according to previously performed procedures such as this.

“Obviously this is a terrible blow for our basketball team and another setback for Sean,” Bobcats Head Coach Sam Vincent said. “Sean has worked extremely hard to get back on the court this season, which is testimony to his off-season regimen and professionalism, but at this time, we want what’s best for him and unfortunately that requires surgery.”

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Darrell Armstrong, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“We are pleased to add Darrell to our roster,” said Thorn. “He is a proven NBA veteran who has the potential to add depth to our backcourt.”

A 13-year NBA veteran, the 6’1” guard has played in 790 career games with four teams (Orlando, New Orleans, Dallas, Indiana) and holds career averages of 9.6 ppg and 4.2 apg. Armstrong began his NBA career in 1995, signing as a free agent with the Orlando Magic. After nine seasons with the Magic, Armstrong signed as a free agent with New Orleans in 2003, where he played until being traded to Dallas part-way through the 2004-05 season. Prior to the 2006-07 season, Armstrong was traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he appeared in 81 games, averaging 5.6 ppg and 2.4 apg.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Good signing. Armstrong, despite being 92 years old, is still waterbug-quick, and more able to do big things in 3-5 minute stretches than Marcus Williams (who is hurt to start the season) or Robert Hite.

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: In his hometown of Rome the Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have exercised the third year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of forward Andrea Bargnani.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the office of Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome. The Raptors are in Rome to face the Boston Celtics and Virtus Lottomatica Roma as part of NBA Europe Live. 2007.

“Andrea has more than lived up to the enormous expectations thrust on him last season as the top pick of the draft,” said Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

Exercising the option while in Andrea’s hometown of Rome could not be more fitting.”

The Rome native is now guaranteed through the 2008-09 season. The team retains a fourth year option for the 2009-10 season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on Bargnani. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal was not disclosed.

Bargnani became the first Italian born player selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when he was selected by the Raptors on June 28, 2006. During his first season in the NBA, Bargnani averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 65 games. He also appeared in six playoff games last season, averaging 11.0 points and shooting 7-for-11 (.400) from three-point range. He was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and captured T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours in January and February.

The Denver Nuggets have signed F Stacey Augmon, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Augmon, 6-8, 213, has played 15 NBA seasons with Atlanta, Detroit, Portland, Charlotte/New Orleans and Orlando. Most recently, he averaged 2.0 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 36 games with Orlando during the 2005-06 season. He currently holds career averages of 8.0 ppg and 3.2 rpg in 1001 career appearances.

The Nuggets training camp roster now stands at 19 players.

Some big changes are in store for fans attending Portland Trail Blazers games this season at the Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden is in the midst of three-year, $13 million capital improvements project, that when complete, will vastly improve the patron experience.

Highlighting the improvements is a new video scoreboard at the Rose Garden that will be among the largest video scoreboards in the NBA. The new Mitsubishi screens measure 15’ x 22.5’ and are powered by a new state-of-the-art high-definition video control room.

Complementing the video experience will be a new sound system that features a line array cluster system of JBL speakers. A total of six line array clusters, augmented by other speakers mounted to the scoreboard, will drive the Rose Garden’s new dynamic audio experience.

The Rose Garden’s main concourses are also undergoing a facelift, including the addition of a new 240-seat restaurant featuring two circular bars that open up to the 100-level concourse. Both the 100 and 300-level concourses will feature a new Trail Blazers-inspired paint and super graphics scheme.

“As we enter this new chapter of Trail Blazers basketball, we felt it was important for the Rose Garden and the fan experience to be redefined,” said Portland Trail Blazers president Larry Miller. “These improvements, specifically the spectacular scoreboard, will guarantee there is no better way to experience Trail Blazers basketball than live at the Rose Garden regardless of your seat location.”

Other improvements in the Rose Garden’s arena bowl include a refinished basketball floor with a new graphic design, as well as upgraded LED stats boards and auxiliary scoreboards.

Also new to the Rose Garden will be Party Suites on the Suite Level. The new modular Party Suites can function as one mega suite accommodating up to 88 guests or two Super Suites of up to 44 fans each. The Lexus Club Level is also being improved with the addition of new furniture.

Other hi-tech improvements making their way to the Rose Garden include designated Wi-Fi hotspots, print-at-home parking tickets, improved Point Of Sale (POS) functionality at concession stands, and handheld ordering devices for Courtside seating patrons.

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Dan Dickau. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Dickau was waived by the New York Knicks on Oct. 1 after joining the team in a trade from Portland on June 28. Dickau played in 50 games last season for the Trail Blazers, making three starts and averaging 3.3 points and 1.4 assists.

A five-year NBA veteran, Dickau has career averages of 6.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 233 career games. The 29-year old Oregon native was selected with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft by Sacramento. The Kings traded his rights to Atlanta, and Dickau made 73 appearances for the Hawks before being traded to Portland on Feb. 9, 2004.

A First Team All-American performer and the West Coast Conference Player of the Year at Gonzaga University as a senior, Dickau played for the Mavericks and Hornets in 2004-05 before moving to Boston and appearing in 19 games with the Celtics in 2005-06 before an Achilles injury ended his season. In 67 games with New Orleans in 2004-05, Dickau averaged a career-high 13.2 points.

Dickau began his college career at the University of Washington before transferring to Gonzaga and developed into a star over his last two college seasons, finishing his career seventh on the school’s all-time assists list (299).

New Jersey Nets guard Marcus Williams underwent successful surgery this morning, Wednesday, October 3, 2007, to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. The surgery, performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley and Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, included the insertion of a screw into Williams’ foot.

Williams will be on crutches for two weeks after which he will begin rehabilitation. He is expected to return to the lineup in six to eight weeks.

As a rookie in 2006-07, Williams played in 79 games for the Nets, averaging 6.8 ppg and 3.3 apg. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Sophomore Challenge at All Star Weekend.

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that 13-year NBA veteran Aaron McKie is rejoining the franchise as an assistant coach on Maurice Cheeks’ staff.  McKie will also have additional duties in player development.

One of the most popular Sixers in recent history, McKie begins his coaching career after playing the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.  In 793 career games with 287 starts, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.15 steals.

As a member of the Sixers in 2000-01, McKie enjoyed his best season, taking home Sixth Man of the Year honors while helping Philadelphia reach the NBA Finals.  That season, he recorded back-to-back triple-doubles at Sacramento on Dec. 30, 2000 (19 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) and vs. Atlanta on Jan. 3, 2001 (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists).

McKie, who had his jersey retired at Simon Gratz High School in 2002, also starred at Temple University.  He finished his three-year career with the Owls tied for sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list and was named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year as a junior in 1993.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Eric Snow underwent successful surgery on his left knee at the Cleveland Clinic earlier today. The procedure, to repair a torn medial meniscus in the left knee, was performed by Cavaliers team physician Dr. Richard Parker.

Snow, who suffered the injury while working out in Cleveland last week, is currently projected to miss the next four to six weeks.